Vijay Hazare was one of the first batsmen to place India on the map of the cricketing world, championing adversity like few ever have. His name is enshrined in cricket history in golden letters. A paragon of class, Hazare possessed a faultless technique, solid defense, and elegant strokeplay. He played a pivotal role on either side of India’s independence, elevating the country’s batsmanship to global recognition. A man of great dignity and charm, he shaped the game as much with his character as with his bat.
Catholic by faith, Vijay Samuel Hazare passed away on December 18, 2004, at the age of 89, after a prolonged illness. A few months ago, we commemorated the 20th death anniversary of this immortal icon.
Cricketing Prowess
Hazare pioneered the role of ‘The Wall’ in Indian cricket, executing textbook strokes with boldness and assurance. He fearlessly countered the fastest bowlers on the most treacherous pitches, embodying courage in adversity. Before accelerating, he would wear down pace attacks with unflinching resolve.
His batting was a masterclass in precision. Gripping the bat handle with hands apart and standing awkwardly at the crease, Hazare’s off-drives, on-drives, and cover drives flowed with silken elegance. He was equally adept at the pull and hook, while his square cuts were a marvel to behold.
Coached in the hinterlands of Maharashtra by the great Australian spinner Clarrie Grimmett, Hazare credited Grimmett for preserving his unorthodox stance. Grimmett believed altering it would diminish his effectiveness.
Hazare thrived in crises, often resurrecting India from dire straits. Time and again, he posted monumental scores, only for wickets to tumble immediately after—a testament to India’s fragile batting line-up. Few Indian batsmen have weathered storms as frequently, blending glorious strokeplay with watertight technique and unshakable temperament. His ability to absorb and release pressure methodically was unmatched in his era.
As a part-time bowler, he famously clean-bowled Don Bradman twice—once each in Sydney and Adelaide. In a 2000 interview, Hazare, wiping away nostalgic tears, recalled this feat as his proudest memory, surpassing even his centuries.
International Career Highlights
Under Hazare’s leadership, India secured its first Test victory against England at Chennai in 1952. He was the first Indian to surpass 1,000 and later 2,000 Test runs, finishing with 2,192 runs at 47.65 in 30 Tests. His finest home series came against the West Indies in 1948–49, where he amassed 543 runs at 67.87, including twin centuries in Mumbai—an unbeaten 134 to save the Test and a 122 that nearly secured India’s maiden win.
Many of Hazare’s innings epitomized "cometh the hour, cometh the man." At Leeds in 1952, India slumped to 0/4 against Fred Trueman and Alec Bedser, teetering on the brink of the lowest Test total in history. Despite nursing a painful injury, Hazare strode out with soldierly grit, scoring 56 in a heroic rearguard. Later that series, at The Oval, India collapsed to 6/5 on a treacherous wet pitch. Hazare’s 38 out of India’s 98 was hailed by him as "the innings of my life."
His magnum opus came in the 1948 Adelaide Test against Bradman’s Invincibles. After Australia piled on 674, India faced certain humiliation at 69/3. Hazare responded with 116. Forced to follow on, he struck 145 in the second innings—becoming the first Indian to score twin centuries in a Test, all while battling Ray Lindwall and Keith Miller’s fury. Six teammates failed to score in his second knock, making his lone-crusader effort one of Test cricket’s greatest counterattacks.
Bradman himself wrote: "Hazare’s display ranks among the finest seen in this country. He belonged to the elite band of batsmen to tour Australia, and cricket lovers owe him gratitude for the joy he provided."
First-Class Dominance
In a first-class career spanning 1934–1966, Hazare piled up 18,754 runs at 58.06, including 60 centuries (eight doubles and two triples). He also took 595 wickets at 24.61.
In the 1946–47 Ranji Trophy, he and Gul Mahomed set a then-world record partnership of 577 for Baroda against Holkar—a mark that stood until 2006. In the 1943–44 Pentangular final, he smashed 309 out of Rest’s 387 (79.8% of the total), a first-class record until 1977. His 300-run sixth-wicket stand with brother Vivek (who contributed 21) showcased his imperial dominance.
Rivalry with Vijay Merchant
The 1940s saw Hazare locked in a riveting duel with Vijay Merchant for the title of India’s premier batsman. In the Pentangular and Ranji Trophy, Hazare often outshone Merchant, with the two repeatedly breaking each other’s records. Their rivalry peaked during the war years when the Pentangular was cricket’s premier domestic event—Merchant representing Hindus, Hazare leading Rest.
Like Merchant, Hazare was a run-machine with an insatiable appetite for mammoth scores.
Legacy and Evaluation
Rahul Dravid is often seen as Hazare’s spiritual successor—orthodox, technically flawless, and capable of marathon innings. Facing legends like Lindwall, Miller, Bedser, and Trueman, Hazare’s Test average of 47.65 (with seven centuries) is remarkable.
However, captaincy burdened his later years. From 1948–53, his average soared above 70, but the added responsibility dulled his focus. A contemporary lamented: "It was one of cricket’s tragedies—Hazare could have been India’s greatest batsman but for the captaincy."
Hazare ranks among India’s top seven batsmen ever. Alongside Tendulkar, Kohli, Laxman, and Dravid, he stands as one of the finest middle-order stalwarts. Had he played for a stronger team or in a later era, his stats might rival those legends. In crisis, few matched his virtuosity.
Bradman noted his only flaw: a reluctance to dominate attacks aggressively, likely due to carrying India’s fragile lineup.
Later Years and Tributes
Post-retirement, Hazare served as a selector in 1960 but soon retreated to Baroda. The 2000 match-fixing scandal devastated him; his daughter-in-law recalled him weeping uncontrollably that day.
- RS Whitington: "The Jackson-like grace of Hazare fired Australia’s imagination."
- Bobby Talyarkhan: "Immaculate in appearance and studied in movement—the Indian Jack Hobbs."
- Sujit Mukherjee: "A sculpture of Hazare should capture his glorious cover-drive."
- Keith Miller: "A gentlemanly giant who hammered bumpers with vicious brilliance."
- Daily Telegraph: "His imperious on-drive was the ultimate test of a batsman’s ability."
Hazare’s legacy endures—a blend of artistry, resilience, and quiet dignity. In the pantheon of cricket’s greats, he rightfully claims a place among the top 100.
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*Freelance journalist
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